200tdi death rattle

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My Old Landy

Keep breathin'
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As some of you may know, my beloved 1987 90 with a Disco 200tdi fitted lost oil pressure on the way home whilst towing a fully loaded trailer. I should have stopped but I did not. I pressed on but it was foolish. Now the engine sounds like a bag of nuts and bolts being vigorously shaken.
I sadly could not pick up the engine offered me so I am at an impasse.
Choices:
1. Keep searching for a replacement.
2. Pull the existing engine and rebuild regardless of problems encountered.
3. Drop the sump and pull the head in situ and try and work out what is wrong?
4. All of the above?
5. Your words of wisdom here.........

If I do pull the engine then I will also have to do the bodywork :rolleyes:
 
I should have said it is a keeper :)
I suspect that will have done quite a bit of damage internally.
Highly likely you will end up rebuilding the engine.
It can be done with the engine in situ, although rebores and a few other jobs are much more difficult.
But rebuilding an engine in situ is a horrible job, so you would probably be better to take it out.
You will be best off to source the bits from Turners, so also enquire how much they would charge to rebuild the engine as well.
They are good at doing it, and fully equipped to do so, as they have been doing it for decades.
 
Do you know how oil pressure was lost , and how many miles did you go, there’s a few on eBay at the mo reasonable price.
Surprising how new bits add up so I’d go for new engine and then check what’s damaged at your leisure what you don’t need you can sell on,
 
Do you know how oil pressure was lost , and how many miles did you go, there’s a few on eBay at the mo reasonable price.
Surprising how new bits add up so I’d go for new engine and then check what’s damaged at your leisure what you don’t need you can sell on,
The pressure gauge sender failed and so the pressure dropped. I drove 8 miles. It lost a fair bit of oil from the hole in the back of the sender unit!
 
I suspect that will have done quite a bit of damage internally.
Highly likely you will end up rebuilding the engine.
It can be done with the engine in situ, although rebores and a few other jobs are much more difficult.
But rebuilding an engine in situ is a horrible job, so you would probably be better to take it out.
You will be best off to source the bits from Turners, so also enquire how much they would charge to rebuild the engine as well.
They are good at doing it, and fully equipped to do so, as they have been doing it for decades.
I think that is a fantastic idea! It would save me the trouble, I am no engine builder but would give it a go :)
 
The pressure gauge sender failed and so the pressure dropped. I drove 8 miles. It lost a fair bit of oil from the hole in the back of the sender unit!
That will likely have ruined all the bearings inside the engine, and probably the pistons as well. Bores may, or may not, be OK.
I think the cam lobes on those are pretty hard, but it would be worth putting a new set of followers in.
And a new oil pump, or at least recon the old one.
Plus all gaskets, seals, etc.

Examine the block and head very carefully when the head is removed. Oil also plays a role in cooling.
 
The pressure gauge sender failed and so the pressure dropped. I drove 8 miles. It lost a fair bit of oil from the hole in the back of the sender unit!

similar to mine a loose speedo cable caught on prop chopping through the small pipe going to oil pressure gauge but I managed to pull off A road onto verge and fixed it there before driving off , tough lesson but a road side bodge can help. Hopefully 8 mile and not totally gone
 
similar to mine a loose speedo cable caught on prop chopping through the small pipe going to oil pressure gauge but I managed to pull off A road onto verge and fixed it there before driving off , tough lesson but a road side bodge can help. Hopefully 8 mile and not totally gone
Instead of stopping, I kept the revs up to keep the light off! I know, but in the moment I just wasn't thinking correctly :(
 
I think that is a fantastic idea! It would save me the trouble, I am no engine builder but would give it a go :)
It isn't inexpensive, but you do get a guaranteed job.

Decades ago, I used to rebuild old Series engines when they packed up. It was OK, and they worked afterwards.
But it took me a long time, because I don't do it very often, and these days I just don't have time, or anywhere suitable to do it.

Second hand engines I have also fitted, but that was on old Escorts and Cortinas, in the days when there were plenty of engines for those around, and the cars rusted out, or got crashed, a lot.
If I was going to fit a second hand engine to an old Defender, I would want one of known provenance, and even then would still change the cam belt, water and oil pumps, and head gasket as a minimum before fitting.
 
When I sourced my 200tdi I stripped it and checked when I find the link I’ll put it here lots of nice pics

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/200-tdi-engine-checking-refurb.346897/


There is actually a very good guide on turners website on how to refurb the 200tdi and along with help on here was quite easy and fun
It would be well worth his while to just take the sump and head off, and just measure a few clearances, and examine a few bearings, to see how bad it is.

If there was still some oil pressure, it may not be as bad as we suspect, and that way he gets a bit of an idea of what might be the best way to proceed.
 
It would be well worth his while to just take the sump and head off, and just measure a few clearances, and examine a few bearings, to see how bad it is.

If there was still some oil pressure, it may not be as bad as we suspect, and that way he gets a bit of an idea of what might be the best way to proceed.
Still pull it or as option 3 head and sump in situ?
 
Agree, so you fixed the leak and still noisy. Pic shows route of oil feeds from pump, zoom in to see the arrows
656D9B72-7D6B-44BB-BED1-C75378304CF7.png
 
Well if it's making a serious noise it is probably dead
Get another lump if you cant rebuild your own
 
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